Arsenal need a win at the Allianz to progress to the Champions League semi finals after Tuesday’s draw with Bayern.
Arsenal drew 2 – 2 with Bayern Munich in a result that is disappointing in the context of the tie. In the context of the game, however, a draw is absolutely fine.
Mikel Arteta’s team started the game in dreamlike fashion, going ahead through Bukayo Saka on 12 minutes. It looked like they would go on to dominate Bayern, and Ben White missed a chance to make it 2 – 0 shortly afterwards.
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That chance would prove to be a pivotal moment as Arsenal began to unravel shortly afterwards. A litany of errors ignited by a positional mixup between David Raya and Gabriel allowed Serge Gnabry to equalise on 18 minutes.
Arsenal would be 2 – 1 down 15 minutes later. Leroy Sane turned Jakub Kivior well on the right touchline and burst towards the Arsenal box at breakneck speed. Arsenal almost dealt with it, but not quite.
Jorginho did brilliantly to get a slide tackle in on Sane. However, this diverted the ball away from Gabriel, who was about to intercept. This meant William Saliba had to make an untidy challenge for the ball and give away a penalty. Harry Kane scored, 2 – 1.
It would take until the 76th minute for Arsenal to level with substitutes Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard combining for the equaliser. A 2 – 2 draw is probably a fair result, but a disappointing one for Arsenal considering how well they started the game.
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Arsenal’s proclivity for nerves in the Champions League is at odds with their assured domestic performances. They appear to be experiencing the same thing Manchester City did a few years ago.
You suffocate your opponents regularly in the league, but suddenly in the Champions League, you don’t have it all your own way. For all of Arsenal’s improvement this season, they’re still inexperienced at Europe’s top table.
This is a team acquitting itself well in uncharted waters. Arsenal have a newfound maturity and confidence this season. Time will tell if it’s enough to knock Bayern Munich out of the Champions League.
